Especially since Take That star Gary has reportedly become embroiled in a feud with fellow judge Kelly, after the pair were handed the Boys and Girls categories and began to see each other as direct competition for the X Factor crown.

‘I get on with Kelly,’ Gary told the Daily Star. ‘Well, I did until this point. When she got given the Girls at boot camp, I’ve noticed the texts have stopped.

‘It’s all gone into a new gear. It’s war now. But that’s fair enough.’